Identification of a new mating group and reproductive isolation in the Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale complex.

Reproductive isolation is essential for the process of speciation. In order to understand speciation, it is necessary to compare one mating group with other phylogenetically related but reproductively isolated groups. The Closterium peracerosum-strigosum-littorale (C. psl.) complex is a unicellular isogamous zygnematophycean alga, which is believed to share a close phylogenetic relationship with the land plants. In this study, we identified a new mating group, named group G, of C. psl. complex and compared its physiological and biochemical characteristics with the mating group I-E, which was closely related to the mating group G. Zygospores are typically formed as a result of conjugation between mating-type plus (mt) and mating-type minus (mt) cells in the same mating group during sexual reproduction. Crossing experiments revealed mating groups G and I-E were reproductively isolated from each other, but the release of lone protoplasts from mt cells of mating group G was induced in the presence of mt cells of mating group I-E. In fact, the sex pheromone, protoplast-release-inducing protein of mating group I-E induced the release of protoplasts from mt cells of mating group G. When mt and mt cells of both mating groups I-E and G were co-cultured (multiple-choice matings), the zygospore formation of mating group G, but not that of mating group I-E, was inhibited. Based on these results, we propose a possible mechanism of reproductive isolation between the two mating groups and suggest the presence of sexual interference between mating group G and mating group I-E.